Chapter Eight
Aladdin's heart beat as if every moment was his last. He didn't know
where he was going. He didn't know where he was; he hadn't for a long
time. Maybe he was closer to the truth than he had been; maybe he was
farther away than ever. But maybes weren't what he needed right now. He
needed to be reassured that what they were doing was right. Aladdin had
always trusted Genie, although he hadn't known him very long, but now
everything depended on something he wasn't even sure of, and Aladdin just
didn't know if Genie really had any idea of what he was talking about. Of
course he wanted to help; Genie was his friend... but if he could,
that was another story.
Light should have been illuminating the eastern skies by this time.
Still, they remained dark and menacing, mimicking Aladdin's thoughts. His
mind was somewhere else, and he wasn't paying much attention to his
surroundings, but Jasmine was. She shivered and wrapped her arms around
her shoulders. Sighing wistfully, she remembered a time only days ago when
Aladdin would have wrapped her in the comforting embrace only he could
give. Now, the look in his eyes was far off, not with the others as they
rushed across the desert sands.
Abu squeaked with as much sadness and longing as Jasmine had. He, too,
shivered slightly as he made his way into her lap, looking for something,
anything familiar. She forced a smile as she looked down on him, but the
fear and exhaustion bore clear on her face. They pleaded silently to one
another for an absolution, both knew might never come. "It's getting so
cold her out here," Jasmine commented, trying to draw attention away from
the hopelessness she knew she shouldn't feel, but did.
Aladdin turned his head slowly to meet her eyes. As tired as Jasmine's
appeared, Aladdin's were more so. "It is?" he replied, his voice monotone.
"I guess I just didn't notice."
"Oh, yes, it is!" said the Genie in high falsetto, at the same time,
transforming into a stewardess dressed in a puffy bright blue skirt and
matching vest "We are now flying ten feet above the Arabian desert. If
you'll take time to look to your left, you'll see sand, and here's an
exciting change of pace, to your right, sand!"
"That doesn't answer why it's so cold," Aladdin snapped.
"Well, since you asked... the cold air is courtesy of "˜The Land of the
Lost Souls, a horrible, cold, desolate place. Tours are available at 1:00,
3:00, and 5:00. And don't forget to stop at the gift shop..."
"You mean we're getting close?" Jasmine cut Genie off, her voice
excited for the first time in days. Aladdin's face, in turn, jumped at
Jasmine's voice. He felt his spirits soar; he could only hope they would
not fall once again. He usually would have been more skeptical of Genie's
games, but he needed something to hold onto, and this was all he had.
"Well, judging by that deep, black portal just a few feet ahead, I'd
say we're pretty darn close!" the Genie exclaimed. All turned in awe at
the sight that loomed in the distance. With that, a whipping wind began to
churn around them; the air became noticeably heavier, weighed down with
pain. Sounds of suffering could be heard, moaning, weeping, and sobbing.
Taken aback by the sudden change of atmosphere, the tiny group huddled
close together, fearing what they knew they would see. He can't be here.
For once, Aladdin pleaded with himself not to find Iago. Things can't
be this awful. They can't. But they were.
How long does one have to be alone before realizing what true
loneliness is? How long does one have to be alone before forgetting? How
many times must one lose everything before remembering? One should have to
alone for an eternity for all three to happen to them... but Iago hadn't.
What felt like an eternity in reality had only been around ten years, but
ten years is a long time when that makes up most of one's life. Iago knew
loneliness; he knew it well, but he had never experienced loneliness in
this way. He had always wished to know what it was like to have someone to
love him and care about what happened to him, somewhere where he could be
accepted. Now that he had experienced that, the loneliness stung more than
it ever had before. He had given up what he had; he had caused himself
this pain; he had ended the only happiness he had ever known. It
was him. There was nothing left to his life, to him, than what he had now.
He had thrown away the only chance he would ever have.
Those were the mildest thoughts that played on his mind that final
morning in what he had finally come to accept as his home. Reena hadn't
bothered to check on him in hours. He was glad to have it that way. If he
had to be here, he wanted to be alone, where he wouldn't be reminded of
memories of his life prior to this time. He didn't want to remember Jafar;
his fears would be greater than they already were. With everything
weighing down on him, the last thing he needed was another reminder of how
little he was actually worth. He already wondered about the value of his
own life. He didn't want to be reminded of Aladdin and the others. The
only saving thought he had left was that no one had ever cared about him
anyway. If he truly believed that, he wouldn't wish for anything more than
he already had. When he thought of them... what he had done for them... what
he now knew he would do again... he knew he had so much more to wish for,
but wishes were stupid; they didn't come true. Maybe for some, like
Aladdin, but not for him, never for him.
One thought raised above all the rest, the one he would never admit. He
wanted to be saved; he needed to...he would. Something about him
made him different from the other lonely souls that roamed these halls. He
didn't only feel the pain; he experienced it; he believed in it,
and most of all, he believed there was more. If not for him, then for
others, but there was more, something he couldn't quite reach. Maybe he
never would, but it was there; he could see it when he closed his eyes,
when he fell deep into a dream. Into a dream... he could hide in a dream; he
could find solace in the fact that he had no control over what took place
in a dream. In a dream-world, the only world he believed in anymore, he
could thrive. His dreams were nightmares, but so was his life. So, he
slept. It was all he could do anymore to conceal the pain he felt.
Nightmares are not painful; reality is.
There was something living, breathing, in that world he no longer
trusted. In a world of tricks and lies, there was something to be trusted...
someone, for entering that world of souls so long dead was a tiny group
that wasn't dead at all. They were more alive than anything, with hopes
and dreams and the ability to see beauty even in these torturous shadows,
even in those who tortured themselves. Beauty is easy to find; one just
has to know where to look... and they did.
There is something in us all that cannot help but be afraid of what we
do not know and could never understand. Even those of us who are true
heroes feel it. What is important is not that we don't feel it, but rather
that we choose to look past it and realize what means so much more than
our own fear. Today, this wasn't as simple as it always had been before.
Blackness rushed toward him. Darkness had enveloped any trace of light
minutes ago; his eyes still hadn't adjusted to the sudden plunge of gloom.
Aladdin couldn't tell what was ahead of him, or even, what was almost upon
him. The wind had become louder, deafening almost, blocking out any sound
that may have given him a clue as to where they had fallen.
After the dive into the portal, everything became fuzzy: the unexpected
loss of illumination, the drop into nothingness. With nothing to tell him
of the time, Aladdin didn't know how long they had been falling, and he
didn't dare ask. When the screaming had died away, Aladdin had lost track
of his friends. Now, he knew that if he spoke, the worst answer could be
silence. He had control over nothing, a realization that wasn't at all
comforting. Something about this plummet had been strange, wrong somehow.
Where was Carpet? Why hadn't he caught them as always? Come to think of
it, it doesn't feel as if I'm really falling at all... Aladdin realized.
It was more as if he were floating. Although the wind sounded as if it was
still rushing past them, he couldn't really feel it. He couldn't feel
anything. Suddenly, a new thought entered Aladdin's mind; he was
weightless, at least physically he was. For the first time in his endless
descent, he attempted movement. Slowly, he lifted his hand; he was
completely surprised at how easy it was. The movement took no effort at
all.
Another part of Aladdin was heavier than ever. His heart felt like lead
in his chest. All the pain he had left behind, memories of his childhood,
the scorns and taunts of others, took hold of his feelings; they now had a
life of their own. He couldn't control that anymore either. Iago is
here... As much as Aladdin didn't want to admit it, he had to. This
is how he felt. He didn't have control anymore; there was nothing he could
do. But there was something I could have done. I didn't then, but I'm
going to now.
Smack! Pain jolted into Aladdin; light flashed before his eyes.
He winced at the sharp twinging that had suddenly entered his body. For a
moment, he didn't bother to open his eyes. The falling had stopped, and
one thing was for sure; he wasn't weightless anymore. Trying to orientate
himself, he felt around the surface he was now sprawled out on. Sore, but
happy to once again be on solid ground, he warily opened his eyes, afraid
of what he would see, of what he wouldn't.
Even in this desolate, dark land, relief and warm joy spread over him
as he realized that he was surrounded by Jasmine, Abu, Genie, and Carpet.
"Aladdin!" Jasmine exclaimed, the same relief rang clear in her voice.
Unfazed by the fall, she took Aladdin in her arms and whispered to him,
"My only fear was that I had lost you." He fell into her arms, exhausted
by fear, overtaken with relief.
"As was mine," his voice trembled slightly, but it was strong. It
hadn't been strong in a long time. Jasmine's eyes filled with tears as she
stroked his cheek. They had made it... they would make it. They were so
close; they couldn't lose now. Everything seemed almost flawless. Jasmine
had no idea where to look, but it didn't matter. Iago was here; she could
feel it.
"We can do this, Aladdin," she reassured him, although she doubted she
needed to.
"We can," his smile was genuine and truthful. Everyone nodded, smiles
breaking out on their faces as well.
"You bet we can, Al!" Genie agreed, as faithful and optimistic as
always.
"And what do we have here? New guests?" suddenly Reena's harsh voice
echoed off the dark walls. Aladdin looked from side to side... nothing.
"Who's there?" he questioned urgently. Jasmine squeezed his hand. Hers
were cold and shivering. "It's okay, Jasmine." He whispered, although he
found himself shivering, too.
"Not new guests," the voice continued, sending more fear into their
souls with each word. Reena had a way of doing that. "They're much too
optimistic for that..." She stopped for a moment. "If not new guests... then...
oh, no! It can't be!" Reena growled.
A white light flashed across the room, blinding the few occupants.
"Aladdin!" Jasmine gasped.
"Just hold onto my hand; don't let go!" Aladdin breathed hard, fighting
to keep his eyes closed against the glow.
Reena sighed heavily. "It can't be," she repeated. "Oh, open your
eyes," she said disgustedly to the group. "It's all over now; there's
nothing to be scared of," her voice remained caustic. Aladdin was the
first to open his eyes, one at a time, not sure what sight he would be
greeted with. The others followed his example, all except for Carpet, that
is.
She appeared human in most ways, engulfed in white light. Her hair, her
skin... but there was something so bitterly inhuman about her... her eyes.
Those empty, cold eyes started back at them, and they knew. They didn't
have to ask. She was the one, the only one capable of doing this to Iago.
He had come so far, but something about those eyes told Aladdin that she
had the power to take him back. "What did you to him?" his voice burned
with anger, resentment, and fear.
"To who, boy?" she feigned innocence. Aladdin couldn't take the
mocking. Everything had been too much for him in these past days. His
whole life seemed as if he were being mocked, by fate, by everyone.
"You know who I'm talking about!" tears burned in his eyes.
"Oh, you're Iago's little friends, aren't you?" she continued her
merciless mocking. "Don't you realize he's happy here? This is where he
wanted to be. If you were really his friends, you would want him to be
where he's happy, where he fits in. We can give him something you never
will be able to. We understand, and that's what he needs. He doesn't need
friend; he needs others, others like him."
Jasmine felt something for Iago she never had before. She had to
protect him, protect him the way Aladdin had. "He did not want to! He'd
never want this. I know him... I know him and... and I "" I care about him!"
Strangely, Aladdin felt a slow smile spreading across his face. His
princess cared about his friend. Friend, Iago was his friend, and now, he
was Jasmine's, too.
"It was his decision! I gave him the choice, and he chose me! He didn't
choose you. He knew you didn't care, so you can stop pretending now. Stop
pretending, because all you'll do is hurt him," Reena's voice was almost
pleading as she noticed the saddened looks on their faces, looks of pity.
"Don't you understand?" she continued, her voice rising. "Love isn't real.
It doesn't exist, not for you, not for him, not for me, not for anyone!"
"Reena," Jasmine's voice was also pleading, but it was softer, more
understanding. "Love does exist. It did for Iago." She stopped for a
moment. "It really did. And it can for you, too."
That same look entered her eyes as it once had that morning with Iago.
"No, it can't. It didn't. You think you know what love is; you all
do. But, the more you lie to yourself, the more pain you're going to
cause, and not just for you, but for others. You hurt Iago by lying to him
the way you did, and you don't even care. You only care that you can
continue on in that fantasy world, because you can't take reality. You're
afraid of reality. Well, it's here now. You can't ignore it anymore. Face
it, Aladdin; face it, all of you!" her voice was frantic.
"I'm not going to, and I'm not going to give up... not again. I'm going
to get Iago back! He's not staying here; he's coming with us; he's coming
home!" Aladdin retorted, feeling optimism that he hadn't since this whole
ordeal had started. Iago was coming home, home where he belonged.
"Home is where the heart is," Reena smirked, "and Iago's heart is here
now. It's empty; it doesn't feel pain anymore. He doesn't feel pain
anymore. Isn't that paradise, Aladdin? Iago is at home, in
paradise!"
Jasmine marched up to the partially transparent image of Reena. She
looked her straight in the eyes and announced, her voice bolder than she
felt, "This is not paradise. I am in paradise, and Iago deserves to be
there, too!"
"Yeah," Genie said, just as boldly. "No one messes with birdie-boy but
me!"
"No one messes with our friends!" Aladdin found his place beside
Jasmine as the others gathered around Reena. They looked at her empty eyes
and saw an empty soul. It wasn't always empty, but that was long ago.
There was nothing, nothing but the pain she said she couldn't feel.
"Well, then, we can't have this, can we?" her voice turned sugary. "Two
choices: you can choose to leave. You can forget Iago. You can move on.
Everything will be the way it was before. The other is not nearly as
pleasant. I can keep you here. I can show you what love does to you. I can
show you the pain love causes, and you won't ever want to love again.
Choose wisely, for the choice will determine your future."
"You will never prove that love is not real. It is more real than
anything," Aladdin truly believed what he was saying as he pressed
Jasmine's hand against his own.
"It is everything," Jasmine finished for him.
"So, I see you've made your choice," Reena laughed softly to herself.
Her laugh was a sound so evil, so empty of what made one human; it sounded
as if it did not come from within her at all, but from a place so dark
even she could not reach it. "So be it. I was fair; in fact, I was more
than fair. I gave you the chance to escape the truth, but now, now you
will see the light. And you'll have to live with what you see. You'll have
to live with it forever. I understand you are ready?"
"What choice have we?" Jasmine spat.
Reena chuckled again. "As of now, you have none, I guess."
"Then we are ready, Reena," Aladdin took off where Jasmine had left
off. "But I have one question for you: Are you ready to be proven wrong?"
"Don't worry; I won't be"
"But if you are?" Jasmine again took the reigns.
"Then," Reena continued hesitantly, "then Iago is yours; he is free to
go."
Aladdin was petrified, but he had to ask. He couldn't go through this
not knowing what he was up against, what he could lose. "And if you win?"
"Then you will join us here in the Land of the Lost Souls. It's not as
bad as you think. Believe me, you'll get used to it," Reena spoke as if
she knew she held the winning hand in this deadly game.
"We won't," Aladdin's voice was low and menacing, "we won't." Aladdin
knew he couldn't lose. Everything depended on this. If they couldn't prove
Reena wrong, Iago would never escape, and neither would they. He knew
better than to think anyone could really love it here. Aladdin could see
it in Reena's empty eyes, hear it in her flat voice. Iago wanted to be
home, where he was needed. He would be.
Reality hit with a sudden flash of light... light? He hadn't seen light
in so long. However, the light was the last thing on his mind. Nightmares
shattered. Iago felt something pull at his heartstrings, something he
hadn't felt since he left Agrabah. Suddenly, he wasn't alone. Half the
weight of the pain he was bearing was gone. Someone, somehow, was bearing
it with him. For the first time in so long, he felt that he could take it.
He was still as lost as ever, but a tiny piece of the map had been given
to him. If he would only follow that, he could survive. He knew that this
wasn't forever; the pain wouldn't last. Other things would. Friendships
would. They would never die. He couldn't give up on his friends just yet.
They would save him; he had to believe. He didn't have a reason to; he
didn't know why he did, all he knew was that he did believe, and with
belief comes absolution from pain.
His pain was not being shared with just one. It was being shared with
five: the ones who cared about him. At that moment, they could see into
him, into all the things he had so strived to keep secret. At that moment,
they were fighting to get him back, partially within themselves, partially
within Iago.